NYT says Google et al are wrong to store usage data.

The storing and sharing of [search] data is a violation of users’ privacy rights.

OK, so what's their reasoning?

When people talk on the phone, they assume that the words they utter will disappear when the call is over. They certainly do not expect that their phone company is recording and storing the words, to mine for commercial purposes or to sell to other companies. People have the same expectation about the Internet searches they do: when the search is over, the words they used will disappear.

They confuse the telecom provider's role as a common carrier and basic service provider with Google's role as an information service and enhanced service provider.

Edward Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, has introduced a bill to prohibit Internet companies from warehousing personal data, including search queries. It is a good start, but it still gives companies too much leeway to keep data. The bill should be strengthened and passed.

This seems rather heavy handed and ill-conceived. Obviously you'd need a user-consent exception to such a rule. Then search providers would force you to log in and accept a terms of service agreement. And then your semi-anonymous cookie is replaced with a login ID; is that better?

Enter Search Term Here, Forever